Electrical connector and ground structure

ABSTRACT

AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR STRUCTURE IN WHICH AN ELECTRICAL FEMALE CONNECTOR IS ADAPTED TO BE INSULATEDLY SUPPORTED BY A HOLLOW BOSS WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PLATE-LIKE SUPPORT INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL GROUND STRUCTURE.

.l. E. HAMPTON ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND GROUND STRUCTURE Feb. 16, 1971 Q Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1968 ti l hll l 3AM wfiw rlnll l l Feb. 16, 1971 I. E. HAMPTON v r 3,564,478

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND GROUND STRUCTURE Filed May a, 19 68 I v s Sheets-Sheet s United States Patent 3,564,478 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND GROUND STRUCTURE Ike E. Hampton, Benton Harbor, Mich., assignor to V-M Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed May 6, 1968, Ser. No. 726,977 Int. Cl. H01r 17/08, 13/42 US. Cl. 339-14 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector structure in which an electrical female connector is adapted to be insulatedly supported by a hollow boss which boss is associated with a plate-like support including an electrical ground structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In electrical connector structures of the prior art which, for example, may have been employed in phonographs, television sets, and the like, and wherein an electrical ground was required, the connector structures and associated ground structures have been composed of numerous parts with the result that costs of the structures and their assembly have been higher than desired.

It is a principal object of this invention to reduce the number of parts to be assembled, to simplify the connector and ground structures, and to make them adaptable to a greater variety of connecting arrangements.

To this end I provide a hollow boss connectible with a base plate, or other plate-like mounting structure, and support any one of a number of known forms of female connectors from the boss with at least a portion of the female connectors disposed within the boss. The foregoing arrangement may be provided either with a boss formed of electrically conductive material or electrically nonconductive material.

When the boss is conductive the female connector is disposed in an insulating sleeve which is supported by the boss. The boss may then serve as a ground connection and preferably the boss is formed integral with a plate structure such as a conductive metal base plate. When the hollow boss is formed of non-conductive material it may be provided with internal shoulders by which the female connector is associated with and positioned by the boss, and the boss preferably is formed integral with a nonconductive base plate. A ground structure may be associated with such boss and plate structure and may serve as a common ground for a plurality of adjacent bosses.

When the hollow boss is formed of conductive material and an insulating sleeve is associated with it, I form the boss and sleeve so that the female connector may be telescoped into the sleeve from either end of the sleeve and the length of the boss and sleeve relative to the length of the female connector is such that the sleeve will partly protrude regardless of the end of the sleeve into which the connector is telescoped. Similarly when the boss is nonconductive it is formed to permit the female connector to be telescoped into it from either end and the relative lengths of the boss and connector are such that a portion of the connector will protrude from the boss when the connector is positioned therein, regardless of the direction of entry of the connector into the boss.

For use in connection with female connectors which are manufactured by a process which forms them as a series of connectors linked one to another by a transversely extending strip or web or an axially extending strip or web, I design the supporting boss (when the boss is formed of a non-conductive material), or design the 3,564,478 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 insulating sleeve (when the boss is a conductive material), of such length that it may accommodate the insertion of the female connector into the boss, or sleeve, respectively, from either end thereof while yet permitting the connecting web or strip (which has been severed on either side (or end) of a female connector) to project from the boss or sleeve so that it may be used as a means for connecting with a wire or the like. Preferably, the length relationships of the boss and/ or insulating sleeve are proportioned so that the interconnecting web or strip on the female connector extends into the open from one end of said boss or insulating sleeve and, when inserted from the other direction, is exposed adjacent to, or may engage the outer end surface of, the insulating boss or insulating sleeve.

Other objects, uses and advantages of my invention will become apparent, or be obvious, from a consideration of the following description, when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a conductive base plate, or similar plate-like mounting structure with a pair of bosses, the right-hand boss being empty and the left-hand boss containing an insulating sleeve and female connector;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, with a fragmentary phantom showing of a known form of male connector and associated electrical ground terminal structure which are adapted to be formed at the end of a conductive wire which has an insulating coating and then a surrounding wire wrap connected with the ground structure;

FIG. 2A shows a modified form of female connector r which could be employed with the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 shows a modified conductive base plate and boss, and modified insulating sleeve, for supporting a female connector;

FIG. 4 shows yet another modification of a conductive base plate and boss and an insulating sleeve for support ing a female connector, with the boss and plate being shown in vertical section and the insulating sleeve being shown in elevation;

FIG. 5 shows the structure of FIG. 4 with the boss and insulating sleeve in vertical section and with the female connector shown in elevation and rotated about its vertical axis toa different position;

FIG. 6 shows a different form of base plate and bosses all formed of insulating material;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view similar to that of FIG. 6 but with a ground terminal structure and female connectors associated with the base plate and bosses;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the base plate, bosses and ground terminal structure of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is yet another base plate and boss structure and associated electrical ground arrangement.

All of the above views are on enlarged scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 there is shown a base plate 10 formed of a conductive material, such as sheet steel, providing a mounting area. Plate 10 has a pair of bosses 12 and 12' connected with the base plate, preferably by being formed integrally therefrom by a stamping operation. The upper end of the bosses 12 and 12 have radially inwardly turned flanges 14 and 14', respectively, defining circular openings 16 and 16'. Each boss has a pair of slots 18, diametrically opposed, extending down from the top of the boss approximately to the base plate 10. It will be understood that in place of two slots a single slot or three or more slots could be employed. Fitted within the left hand boss 12 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is an insulating sleeve, indicated generally at 20', which has a circular opening 22 at the lower end, as viewed in FIG. 2, and a larger circular bore 24 extending upwardly from a shoulder 26. Formed integrally on the outer wall of the insulating sleeve is a pair of diametrically opposed projections 28. The external diameter of the sleeve 20 preferably is just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the boss 12 so that the sleeve is centered within the boss. Projections 28 on the sleeve 20 are of a width to fit closely within the slots 18 and are of a radial extent sufficient to extend slightly over shoulders 30 which are provided by the base plate adjacent the slots 18. The projections 28 and the sleeve 20 are sufflciently resilient or flexible that it is possible to telescope the sleeve 20 into the boss 12, with the projections 28 being cammed radially inwardly by the projections tapered upper surfaces 32 so that the projections may squeeze into and through the opening 22 in the base plate which opening is formed when the boss is stamped out of the plate. The projections 28 expand radially outwardly after they have passed through the opening in the base plate 10' and therefore project slightly over the upper surface of that base plate and locate the sleeve 20 axially within the boss 12. The inturned flange 14 of the boss 12 provides a shoulder, or projection, 34 which is adapted to prevent the sleeve 20 from being pushed upwardly and out of the boss 12.

A known form of female connector, indicated generally by the reference numeral 36, is telescoped within the sleeve 20 and has an outer diameter smaller than the opening 22 in the sleeve 20. The main body portion 38 of the female connector 36 is resilient and generally tubular, having been formed from a fiat sheet of conductive metal and includes a pair of integral resilient projections 40 which are compressed radially inwardly as the female connector is telescoped into the insulating sleeve 20 when those projections reach the opening 22 of the sleeve. When the female connector has been inserted further into the sleeve to the point where its projections 40 reach the larger bore 24 of the sleeve, the projections then expand outwardly and are adapted to seat on the inner shoulder 26 of the sleeve. At this position of the connector 36 a pair of pro- -jections, or flanges, 42 formed on the lower or terminal portion 44 of the connector 36, engage the lower end of the sleeve 20, which end thereby provides a shoulder surrounding the opening 22, against which the projections 42 may bear. By these interfitting projections and shoulders the female connector 36 is located within the sleeve 20, and the sleeve is also located within the boss 12 by reason of other interfitting projections and shoulders. The lower end 44 of the female connector 36 has pairs of opposed flanges 53 and 54 which are adapted to be crimpeq around the exposed end of a wire and its insulating cover, respectively. If preferred, the end of the wire may be soldered to the lower end, 44 of the female connector. In connection with a slightly different female connector 36A, shown in FIG. 2A, such a soldered connection is shown at 46.

Above the boss 12 is shown a phantom, fragmentary view of a male terminal or connector 48, of known form, which is adapted to fit within the female connector 36. Associated with the male terminal 48 is a surrounding electrical ground structure 50 comprised of a plurality of associated arcuate spring fingers 52 which, collectively, form a female connection for embracing the exterior surface of the conductive boss 12. The spring fingers 52 are electrically conductive as is the male terminal or connector 48, but the fingers are insulated from the terminal in a manner well known in the art.

While it is preferred to first interconnect the female connector 36 and sleeve 20 prior to insertion of the two jointly into the boss 12, it is also possible to have the insulating sleeve 20 telescope into the boss 12 prior to the female connector 36 being telescoped into the sleeve 20.

FIG. 3 shows the metallic conductive base plate 10 formed with an integral stamped boss 12 but the boss,

unlike the bosses of FIGS. 1 and 2, has no vertically extending slots in its side wall nor inturned flange at its upper end. A different form of insulating sleeve, indicated generally by the reference numeral 56, is telescoped into the boss 12, said sleeve being of an exterior dimension and shape to fit closely within the boss 12. The sleeve 56 has an upper flange 58, as viewed in FIG. 3, which has a maximum exterior diameter slightly greater than the inside diameter of the boss 12. The sleeve is inherently resilient or flexible and that factor, together with the tapered surface 60 of the flange permits the insulating sleeve to be inserted through the opening 62 in the base plate, which opening is formed when the boss 12 is stamped out. If desired, the sleeve 56 can be formed with one or more vertically extending slots through its side wall to add to the ability of the sleeve to be radially inwardly compressed as the sleeve is telescoped into the boss and through it to the point Where the flange 58 reaches the upper end of the boss and then expands radially outwardly to rest on the upper outer end surface64.

The sleeve is also formed with a lower flange 66 which includes a tapered portion 68 adapted to fit within the opening 62 of the boss and to bear against the surface of the base plate 10 so that the sleeve is restrained against axial separation from the boss. The sleeve 56 is hollow and its internal construction is like that disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and it has a female connector 70, like connector 36 of FIG. 2, secured within it in the same manner as was described above in connection with the connector 3 6 of FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be apparent that a male terminal 48 and electrical ground structure 50, such as is shown in the phantom view of FIG. 2, may cooperate with the structure of FIG. 3 with the conductive spring fingers 52 resiliently engaging the outer surface of the boss 12 and with the male terminal or connector 48 fitting within the female connector 70.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 slightly modified forms of a boss and an insulating sleeve are illustrated and are represented respectively by the reference numerals 82 and 84. The boss 82 is stamped integrally from the base plate 10 which is formed of conductive material such as sheet steel and the boss has an upper radially inwardly directed flange 85 defining an opening 86 in a manner similar to the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the three slots 88 formed in the side wall of the boss 82 do not extend upwardly from the base plate through the full height of the boss 82 but only sufliciently far to accommodate the three projections 90' which are integrally formed on the insulating sleeve 84. The opening 92, formed in the base plate when the boss 82 is stamped out, is of a diameter slightly less than the outside diameter represented by the outermost extension of the group of projections 90. The tapered surfaces 94 of the projections 90 permit them to squeeze past the smaller diameter opening and then the projections expand radially so that they seat upon the margin of the base plate surrounding the hole 92. The length of the body of the sleeve 84 is such that it engages, or approximately reaches the undersurface of the inwardly turned flange 85 of boss 82. It will be understood that the length of the body of the sleeve 84 could be somewhat shorter than that illustrated. At its lower end, as viewed in FIG. 5, the sleeve 84 has a radially outwardly extending flange 96 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 92 in the base plate and having its upper surface spaced from the lower surface of the projections 90 an amount corresponding approximately to the thickness of the base plate 10'. As a result, the margin of the base plate surrounding the hole '92 is gripped between the projections 90 and the flange 96 thereby assuring that the sleeve 84 will be retained within the boss 82. It will be appreciated that the interfitting surfaces of the boss and plate with the projections and flange of the sleeve represent a group of projections and shoulders which interfit to position the sleeve within the boss.

A female connector 98 of the same general construc tion as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is supported within the insulating sleeve 84 and is restrained against axial, or other, separation in the manner described above. The only difference shown in FIG. over that in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is that the insulating sleeve is slightly recessed, as at 100, to receive the projecting flanges 102 carried on the female connector 98, instead of having the flanges bear against the lower surface of the flange 96 of the sleeve 84 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. A male terminal member 48, such as that described above in connection with FIG. 2, may be associated with the female connector 98 of FIGS. 4 and 5 and the spring fingers 52 of the electrical ground structure 50 such as those shown in FIG. 2, will have a resilient fit about the exterior surface of the boss 82.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 there is shown fragmentarily a base plate 110, or similar plate-like mounting structure, having a pair of bosses 112 and 112' connected to the base plate. The plate is formed of a non-conductive material and preferably the bosses are formed integrally therewith of the same material. Each boss is hollow and the internal configuration of each boss is the same. A description of boss 112 will therefore suflice to also disclose the structure of boss 112'. Internally of boss 112 is a bore 114 extending through the boss but having a constricted area as at 116 intermediate the ends of the boss and closer to that end which is integrally formed with the base plate 110. The radially inwardly extending flange which forms the constricted passage 116 has an upper surface providing a shoulder 118 and a lower surface providing a shoulder 120, which shoulder connects with the lower end of bore 114 by a tapered portion 122.

A female connector 124 is disposed in each boss and is adapted to be positioned therein either in the position shown in FIG. 8, wherein the lower terminal end 126 of the female connector extends downwardly, or in a position in which the female connector is upside down, i.e., is reversed 180, so that the terminal end 126 extends vertically upwardly from the boss 112, instead of downwardly. The connector 124 may be inserted into the boss 112 from either open end of the boss and its resilient projections 128 pass through the constricted portion 116 of the bore 114 and then spread out when they have passed that constriction and engage shoulder 118 and assist in centering the connector. Projections 130 at the intermediate portion of the female connector 124 engage either the tapered surface 122 or the shoulder 120 within the bore 114 thereby, with the assistance of projections 128, restraining the female connector from separating from the boss 112.

Connectors 124, which are of a known type, are sometimes formed by a series of stamping operations which leaves them in their final form connected together with the long axes in a parallel arrangement spaced laterally of each other by a connecting strip which is subsequently severed and usually removed. The strip portions 129 shown in dotted lines at the lower end of the female connectors 124 are an example of one form of severed striplike connecting portion. Such a portion 129 may serve as a terminal connection portion for soldering a wire to the female connector 124 in place of having a wire inserted into the terminal end 126 of the connector to be held by a crimping action involving the flanges 132 and 134. The strip portion 129 may have an aperture 136 to assist in making a soldered wire connection with the strip portion 129. It will be understood that the strip portion 129 could be located elsewhere in association with the female connector 124. For example, it could be an extension of the flange 130 or of flages 132 or 134; or it could be an extension running axially in alignment with the terminal end 126 rather than laterally of it, if a series of female connectors are formed in end-to-end relation with their long axes aligned.

In the design of my bosses 112 and 112 I provide dimensions which not only will accomodate the female connector whether inserted from either end of the boss but also will provide an over-all length of that boss and its associated base plate such that a terminal portion of the connector 124 will be available at either end and so that if a strip portion, such as 129, is left on the connector it will project from the boss regardless of the end into which the connector is inserted. In the form shown in FIG. 8 the terminal portion 126 of connector 124if inserted from the top side of the boss 112-will be approximately flush with the outer end of the boss and the strip portion 129 will lie adjacent the outer end of the boss. If desired, the terminal portion 126 itself can be made even longer, (or the boss somewhat shortened) so that the terminal portion 126 will extend out of the open upper end of the boss any desired distance.

I provide an electrical ground structure indicated generally by the reference numeral in FIGS. 7 and 8, for the electrically non-conductive bosses 112 and 112. The ground structure comprises a pair of arcuate flanges 142 and 142 interconnected by a web or connecting portion 144 and having an integral extension, or lance, 146 and a integral wire terminal portion 148.

The arcuate flange portions, 142 and 142 seat in recessed portions 150 and 150 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) and pass through the arcuate slots 152 and 152' in the base plate 110. The lower.corners of the flanges 142 and 142' extend outwardly a slight amount to form holding tabs 154 which engage the top surface of the base plate 110 at its non-conducting interconnecting strip portion between the bosses after the ground structure 140 has had its flanges 142 and 142 pushed through the slots 152 and 152 in the base plate to position the flanges as shown in FIG. 8. The ground structure 140 therefore is prevented from becoming disengaged from the base plate 110 and bosses 112 and 112'. The wire terminal portion 148 of the ground structure 140 is adapted to have its pairs of flanges 156 and 158, respectivelly, crimped on to an exposed wireend of a ground wire and to the insulating cover for the wire. If desired the lance or projection 146 may be used for a solder connection of a ground wire, or the ground wire may be secured to that projection by means of a self-threading screw (not shown) adapted to screw into the aperture 160 of the lance 146.

Referring next to FIG. 9 there is shown a base plate of non-conductive material. Integrally formed with the base plate are a pair of hollow bases 172 and 172 in which are secured female connectors 174 and 176 in a manner such as that disclosed above in connection with FIGS. 6 through 8. Also integrally formed with the base plate are a pair of upstranding solid bosses 178 and 180. Preferably they have a rounded upper end and a circular periphery to receive a tube-like connector (not shown) which can lead to ground. If desired the bosses 178 and 180 could also be made hollow.

Bosses 178 and 180 which may receive tube-like ground connectors serve as grounds for the bosses 172 and 172 by being electrically connected with at least a part of the surface of those bosses by a coating of conductive material indicated by the reference numeral 182 and shown by stippling. It will be understood that the entire surfaces of the bosses 172, 172', 178 and 180 may be coated with an electrically conductive coating which may extend also between the bosses 172 and 172, if desired. In that way a single ground connector telescope over either the boss 17 8 or the boss 180 would serve as a ground connection for both bosses 172 and 172'.

By means of the foregoing described embodiments of my invention, it will be seen that I have provided electrical connector and ground structures which have fewer parts to be assembled, are simpler in construction and make the structures adaptable to a greater variety of connecting arrangements. While these illustrated structures are examples of preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not intend to be limited to those structures, except insofar as the claims are so limited, since modifications of the described structures will suggest themselves readily to one skilled in the art when he has my disclosure before him.

I claim:

1. An improved electrical connector and ground structure for use in providing electrical connection at a mounting area characterized by the mounting area comprising a. plate portion having a pair of spaced bosses of nonconductive material integral with and protruding above a surface thereof, ground terminal means on the exterior of each of said bosses and the plate portion having conductive means electrically connecting said ground terminal means, at least one of said bosses having an axialdirected passage opening through the opposite ends thereof, and an electrical connector which includes a socket portion within said passage supported against axial separation from the boss and insulatedly from the ground terminal on the exterior thereof, said socket portion being accessible through one end of the boss, and the connector having a further portion protruding through the opposite end of the boss, said socket and protruding portions of the connector constituting terminals by which a pair of conductors may be electrically united in isolation from the ground terminals.

2. The electrical connector and ground structure of claim 1 wherein said one boss has an internal shoulder portion engaged by and positioning the electrical connector.

3. The electrical connector and ground structure of claim 2 wherein the connector has at least one shoulder portion and one resiliently yieldable projection portion so spaced as to cooperate with the internal shoulder portion of the boss and to permit the connector to be telescoped into the boss.

4. The electrical connector and ground structure of claim 1 wherein the ground terminal means each includes a member of conductive material disposed in a recess in an outer side wall of the bosses.

5. The electrical connector and ground structure of claim 4 wherein the plate portion has a pair of slots therethrough, one adjacent a side wall of each said bosses, and each of said members of conductive material extending through a respective one of said slots.

6. The electrical connector and ground structure of claim 5 wherein said conductive means of the plate portion comprises a web member between and electrically connected to the portion of said ground terminal members extending through said slots.

7. The electrical connector and ground structure of claim 6 wherein said web member has a lance and terminal portion.

8. The electrical connector and ground structure of claim 2 wherein the exterior surfaces of said bosses have a coating of electrical conductive material and are electrically interconected by a coating of electrical conductive material on the surface of the plate portion between the bosses.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,124,207 7/1938 Neesen 339-49 2,411,861 12/1946 Antony, Jr. et a1. 339217 2,694,187 11/1954 Nash 33914(L) 2,992,403 7/1961 Hawk 33925 9X 3,065,441 11/1962 Leonard 3392l7(S)X 3,070,769 12/1962 Murphy 33949 3,328,749 6/1967 Kukla 339-17X 3,337,833 8/1967 Creedon 339-14 2,762,024 9/1956 Heath 339'126 2,869,090 1/1959 Johanson 339-177(E)X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,015,890 1/1966 Great Britain 339-177 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner P. A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 33917, 177, 217 

